Two-piece frame assembly with expansion joint



Nov. 14, 1967 Original Filed June 14, 1962 H. B. NEAL TWO-PIECE FRAMEASSEMBLY WITH EXPANSION JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HARRY B. NEALBY Y M m yw ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 i H. B. NEAL. 3,352,078

TWO-PIECE FRAME ASSEMBLY WITH EXPANSION JOINT Original Filed June 14,11962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H H H05 58 I INVENTOR.

I HARRY B. NEAL- 1 x BY A TTORNE YS' United States Patent 3,352,078TWO-PIECE FRAME ASSEMBLY WITH EXPANSION JOINT Harry 13. Neal, Atlanta,Ga., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Anaconda Aluminum Company,Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Montana Continuation of applicationSer. No. 202,589, June 14, 1962. This application Feb. 2, 1966, Ser. No.536,485 1 Claim. (Cl. 52573) This is in continuation of my co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 202,589, filed June 14, 1962, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to wall structures, and more particularly to wellstructures of the type wherein sheetlike wall panel members are retainedand supported by a system of horizontal and vertical division barswithin which the peripheral edges of the panels are seated.

Wall structures of the type with which the presei'it invention isconcerned are primarily employed to construct non-load bearing wallsections where a large glass area is desired, the most familiar examplebeing the so-called store front construction. In constructions of thistype, a maximum glass area is desirable and hence the designer attemptsto combine glass panels of maximum size with supporting division barsand mullions of minimum size. Although the wall structure is not a loadbearing wall, the division bars and mullions, in addition to possessingsufiicient strength to support the static weight of the relatively largeglass panels, must also possess sufficient structural rigidity to resistthe substantial wind loading applied to the relatively large glass area.Because of the relatively large sized glass panels conventionallyemployed, an additional problem arises by virtue of the difference inthermal expansion characteristics between the glass panels and themetallic frame members which retain and support them.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wallstructure of the foregoing typewherein a number of different horizontaldivision bars and mullions adapted for specialized placement within thestructure may be readily assembled from a relatively small number ofstandardized extruded modules.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure of theforegoing type for firmly supporting relatively large area panel membersby peripherally extending frame member assemblies which permit relativemovement between the panels and frame members to accommodate for thermalexpansion and contraction.-

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following specifications and to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary form of store frontconstruction embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showingdetails of one form of horizontal frame member assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showinganother form of horizontal frame member assembly or division bar;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1showing one form of vertical frame member assembly or mullion embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 1showing another form of vertical frame member assembly or mullion;

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1showing still another form of horizontal frame member assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1showing a horizontal frame member assembly forming a transom member of adoor frame.

Patented Nov. 14, 1967 In FIG. 1, a typical wall structure embodying thepresent invention is disclosed in the form of a store front in which theWall structure is constituted by a plurality of glass panels such as 10which are retained and supported by horizontal and vertical frame memberassemblies, such as H H H V and V which receive the peripheral edges ofthe glass panels in a manner described in more detail below. The framemember assemblies are, in the usual case, constructed from two or moreelongate extruded metal members and, when assembled, are substantiallyidentical in outward appearance. However, as is apparent from thedrawings, the various members differ in their cross-sectionalconfiguration and will be described individually.

Referring first to FIG. 2, a horizontal frame member assembly H whichforms the top frame member assembly of the wall structure, is shown asbeing made up of a first frame member designated generally 12, and apair of like second frame members designated generally 14. Frame members12 and 14 are aluminum extrusions and hence are of uniform transversecross-section throughout their entire length.

Frame member 12 includes a generally planar horizontal central web 16from which inclined intermediate web members 18 extend as shown in FIG.2. Because intermediate webs 18 are identical in shape, a commonreference numeral has been applied to both intermediate webs, the twointermediate webs 18 differing solely in that one is inclined upwardlyfrom the horizontal general plane of central web 16, while the otherintermediate web 18 is incline-d downwardly.

Frame member 12 further includes a right angled section 20 made up of aface portion 22 integral with the lower edge of the left-handintermediate web 18 in FIG. 2, and a side portion 24 integral with thelongitudinal edge of face portion 22 at its edge remote from theassociated intermediate web 18. Face portion 22 of right angled section20 lies in a general plane parallel to the horizontal general plane ofcentral web 16, while side portion 24 lies in a vertical plane whichprojects from face portion 22 in a direction toward the general plane ofcentral web 16. Another right angled section 20, differing only inorientation, is integral with the upper or right-hand intermediate web18 of FIG. 2.

Adjacent the juncture of each intermediate web 18 and central Web 16,oppositely facing outwardly projecting ribs 26 are formed as an integralpart of first frame member 12. Each rib 26 is formed with asubstantially circular recess 28 which extends the entire length of therib and is adapted to receive the threaded portion of a screw 30 bymeans of which first frame member 12 may be fixedly secured in positionto an abutting vertical frame member assembly such as V or V Adjacenttheir respective inner ends, ribs 26 are formed with a recess 32 whichundercuts central web 16 as at 34. Recess 32, 34 and a notch 36 in theadjacent side portion 24 of right angled section 20 enable a secondframe member 14 to be attached to first frame member 12 in a mannerdescribed more fully below.

Each of second frame members 14 is identical and hence a description ofone is equally applicable to the other. the frame members 14 in FIG. 2differing solely in their orientation. Each frame member 14 is ofchannel shape and includes a planar channel web 40 and a generallyplanar channel side member 42 integrally joined to one longitudinal edgeof web 40 and perpendicular to the general plane of web 40. At theopposite longitudinal edge of web 40, an angled channel side member 44projects from web 40 in the same general direction as does side 42, side44 having a portion 46 which is inclined outwardly from web 40 as shownin FIG. 2. A we 48 at the distal edge of side 44 is engagea-ble withinthe undercut recess 34, while a hooked projection 50 on side 42 isenga-gea ble within notch 36 in right angle portion 24 of the firstframe relationship with the first frame member. Second frame member 14is of generally U-shaped crosssection and sides 42 and 44 possesssufiicient resiliency to enable the channel shaped second frame member14 to be snapped into assembled relationship with frame member 12 byhooking toe 48 in undercut recess 34 and then swinging side 42 towardright angle portion 24 to seat hook shape projection 50 in notch 36. Toassist movement of frame member 14 into its assembled osition, hookedshape projection 50 is beveled as at 52, while right angle portion 24 offirst frame member 12 is likewise beveled as at 54.

As seen in FIG. 2, when the two frame members 14 are assembled on thefirst frame member 12, the resultant transverse cross-sectionalconfiguration of assembly H is in the form of a rectangle having arecess formed in each of the opposed longer sides of the rectangle.Central web 16 defines the inner wall of both recesses and, in the FIG.2 embodiment, the opposite side walls of the recess are respectivelydefined by an intermediate Web 18 and the opposed side 44 of a secondframe member 14.

Portion 46 of side 44 is formed with a pair of projections 56 which aresimilar to a pair of projections 58 on each of the intermediate webs 18.Projections 56 and 58 serve as supports for a pair of vinyl glazingstrips 60 which, in turn, engage and support glass panel within thelowermost recess of the FIG. 2 embodiment. Frame assembly H is securedto the fixed frame of a building by a series of screws, such as 61,which pass upwardly through central web 16 into a building frame memberpartially indicated as at 62. A mounting plate 64 is disposed betweenbuilding frame 62 and the upper surface of the assembled frame assembly,and caulking 66 is employed to seal the joints.

Insofar as the embodiments of horizontal frame member assemblies H and Hshown in FIGS. 3 and 6 are concerned, the basic frame assembly structureis identical with that of FIG. 2. The embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 6differ only in their location relative to the wall panel or panels whichare retained and supported by the respective assemblies. As describedabove the assembly H of FIG. 2 is employed to retain the upper edge of apanel 10 relative to an overlying horizontal building frame member suchas 62. The assembly H of FIG. 3, a division bar assembly, is employed toextend between and to support with respect to each other the upper edgeof one panel 10 to the lower edge of a second panel 10.

Thus, in the FIG. 3 arrangement, both the upper and lower recesses offrame member assembly H are employed to receive and retain thehorizontal peripheral ege of a glass panel 10. The panel 10 retained inthe uppermost recess is supported upon a plurality of spaced supportblocks 70 which, in turn, rest upon the upper surface of central web 16.Vinyl glazing strips 60 are employed in the upper as well as the lowerrecess of frame member assembly H The FIG. 6 embodiment shows a frameassembly H employed as a lower sill wherein the lower edge of a glasspanel 10 is supported in the upper recess of the frame assembly, supportblock 70 and glazing strips 60 being employed as in assembly H Bolts 72pass downwardly through central web 16 to secure first frame member 12in position on a sill plate 74. A moisture guard 76 is located betweensill plate 74 and the lower surface of the frame assembly, the outer orexterior side of guard 76 overhanging the front of base 78 to form arecess which is filled with sealing compound as at 80. The rear orinterior side 79 of guard 76 is projected outwardly beyond the framemember assembly to provide a pocket for receiving a glazing strip 60which acts as a moisture seal.

In the three embodiments of horizontal frame member assemblies describedabove, the first or primary frame member 12 is formed in a manner suchthat the right angled sections 20 define two diagonally opposed cornersof the over-all rectangular cross-sectional configuration. The tworemaining corners are in turn defined by the generally U-shaped channelsor second frame members 14, the cooperative relationship between therespective frame members being such that the frame member assembly isformed with two recesses, each of which is adapted to receive a panelmember which is supported within the recess by glazing strips 60 and,where necessary, support blocks 70. As is apparent from a comparison ofFIGS. 2, 3 and 6, either or both of the recesses may be employed toreceive, retain and support the horizontal edge portion of a glasspanel. Vinyl strips 60 not only provide a moisture tight seal, but alsopermit cushioned movement of the panel relative the frame memberassemblies, e.g., toward or away from the assemblies.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, two forms of vertical frame memberassemblies or mullions V and V are disclosed.

The FIG. 4 embodiment is employed to retain and sup port one verticaledge of a glass panel 10 adjacent a vertical building frame member suchas 81. The mullion V of FIG. 4 includes a first frame member 82 which isformed with a central web 84 having integral intermediate webs 86projecting transversely from each longitudi nal side edge. Right angledweb sections 88 extend out wardly from the outer longitudinal edges ofthe respec-' tive intermediate webs 86, each web section 88 including agenerally planar face portion 90 integral at one edge with theassociated intermediate web and integral at its opposite edge with aside portion 92 lying in a general plane perpendicular to the generalplane of face portion 90. In mullion V central web 84 defines the innerwall of a wall panel receiving recess while intermediate webs 86 definethe opposed side walls of the recess. The outer end portions ofintermediate webs 86 are outwardly divergent from each other as at 94and are formed with projections 96 which are employed to seat a vinylglazing strip 60, identical with the glazing strip 60 employed in thepreviously described embodiments, to receive the vertical peripheraledge portion of a glass panel 10.

A right angled flange 98 is integrally formed on the inner side of eachside portion 92 to form a means for mounting first frame member 82 on aone piece second frame member 100 which is secured to the verticalbuilding frame 81 as by bolts 102. Second frame member 100 includes agenerally planar main web 104 having spaced parallel inner and outermounting flanges 106 and 108 projecting perpendicularly from the generalplane of main web 104 at each longitudinal edge. Inner mounting flanges106 are substantially longer than outer flanges 108, and the respectiveflanges 106 and 108 are spaced from each other as shown in FIG. 4 toslidably receive the side portions 92 and right angle flanges 98 offirst frame member 82. This interengagement between first frame member82 and second frame member 100 locks the two frame members againstmovement relative to each other in a direction parallel to the generalplane of main web 104, but permits relative movement between the twoframe members in a direction parallel to the planes of flanges 106 and108.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a frame member assembly V for retaining andsupporting adjacent vertical edge portions of adjacent panels 10 isdisclosed. The mullion V of FIG. 5 is constructed from a first framemember 82 which is identical with the frame member 82 of FIG. 4 andhence a description of member 82 of FIG. 5 will not be repeated.

The second frame member of mullion V is a one piece member whichincludes a central web 122 integral along each longitudinal edge with anintermediate web 124, central web 122 and intermediate webs 124 definingthe inner opposed side walls of a panel receiving recess. The depth ofthe recess in second frame member 120 is somewhat less than the depth ofthe corresponding recess in the associated first frame member 82, butthe outer portions of intermediate webs 124 are divergently inclined andformed with glazing strip retaining projections 12-6 in the same fashionas intermediate Webs 86 of frame members 82. The reduction in depth ofthe recess in second frame member 120 provides a space between centralweb 122 of frame member 120 and the opposed central web 84 of the firstframe member 82.

Projecting from the outer longitudinal edges of each intermediate web124 are flat face portions 128 which lie in a common plane and areformed at their outer longitudinal edges with a retaining flange 130formed to receive and retain a vinyl sealing strip 132. Sealing strips132 are in turn formed to be received within the recess defined by sideportion 92 of the associated first frame member 82 and the right angledflange 98 which projects therefrom.

In the assembled wall structure, the various horizontal frame memberassemblies H H and H are secured to the vertical frame member assembliesor mullions V and V by bolts such as 30 which pass through the opposedwebs or web portions of the mullions and are threaded into the recessedribs 26 of the horizontal division bars as best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and6. Thus, in an assembled wall structure, the first frame member 82 ofmullion V of FIG. 4 would be fixedly coupled through a horizontal framemember such as H; to the second frame member 120 of an adjacent mullionV Because the thermal expansion characteristics of a glass panel 10,whose opposite vertical edge portions are supported by member 82 ofmullion V and member 120 of the adjacent mullion V differ from thethermal expansion characteristics of the aluminum horizontal framemembers H and H the panel and frame members will move relative to eachother depending upon the temperature conditions. This movement isaccommodated by sealing strips 132 and also by glazing strips 60.Movement of the frame members relative to the glass panels is permittedprimarily by glazing strips 60, while the expansion of horizontalmembers, as between two fixed vertical building frame members, such as81, is taken up at each intermediate mullion of the type of FIG. 5 bythe resiliency of sealing strips 132 in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal extent of the horizontal members.

In FIG. 7, still another form of horizontal frame member assembly isdisclosed, the FIG. 7 embodiment being employed as a transom bar todefine the upper horizontal edge of a door frame. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, a first frame member 150 is formed with a central web 152 andintermediate webs 154, the arrangement of central and intermediate websin the FIG. 7 embodiment being similar to that employed in frame member82 of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. Right angled sections 156 projectoutwardly from the lower edges of the intermediate webs 154, eachsection 156 includes a face portion 158 lying in a plane parallel to thegeneral plane of central web 152 and an integral side portion 160 whichprojects normally from the outer longitudinal edge of first portion 158towards the general plane of central web 152. Side portions 160 aresimilar to side portions 24 of the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, andare formed with retaining notches 162 which are adapted to receive andretain the hook-like projections 50 of a second frame member 14identical in construction to the second frame members 14 of theembodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. Undercut recesses 164 are formed ateach longitudinal edge of central web 152 to receive and retain the toeportions 48 of second frame members 14. As in the case of the embodimentof FIG. 2, outwardly projecting recessed ribs 166 are integrally formedon the opposite sides of central web 152.

The primary difference between the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 7 is thatin the FIG. 2 embodiment, the right angled sections 20 form diagonallyopposed corners of the over-all rectangular cross-section of the framemember assembly, whereas in the FIG. 7 embodiment, the analogous rightangled web sections 156 form adjacent corners at opposite ends of theside within which the recess defined by central web 152 and intermediatewebs 154 is present. The recess formed by webs 152 and 154 is, as isapparent from a comparison of FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, adapted to receive aglass panel and glazing strip 60 assembly. However, in the FIG. 7embodiment, the recess is actually employed to receive a channel-likeWeatherstrip supporting member 166 which is clipped to the inner glazingstrip mounting projections 168 on the inner walls of intermediate webs154. A downwardly projecting flange 170 on member 166 supports aWeatherstrip sealing element 172 below the lower surface of the framemember assembly for engagement with the upper edge of a door 174.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that several variant forms ofhorizontal and vertical frame member assemblies may be readilyfabricated from a relatively few number of standard frame assemblycomponents or modules. All of the frame member components are in theform of extruded members which permits the convenient assembly of apanel containing wall structure at the building site by merely cuttingstandard lengths of the various extrusions to the desired lengths.

Relative movement between the glass panels and metallic frame membersoccasioned by thermal expansion and contraction is readily accommodatedby the vinyl glazing strips which maintain a moisture tight seal aroundthe panel edge portions at all times. The space between the opposedcentral webs 122 and 84 of the intermediate mullion V is suflicient toallow the addition of a steel reinforcing member having an offsetcentral section adapted to pass between the two central webs and endportions which may be bolted at spaced intervals to the right-hand sidesof right angle flanges 98 as viewed in FIG. 5.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been describedin detail above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoingdescription is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting and thescope of the invention is that defined in the following claim.

I claim:

For use in a wall structure having a wall panel member retained andsupported by frame members extending along the peripheral edge portionsof said panel member; an elongated hollow frame member assembly having auniform transverse cross-sectional shape in the form of a rectanglewherein two opposite and parallel walls of the rectangle have smooth,unbroken external surfaces and at least one of the other rectangle wallshas an externally exposed recess therein adapted to receive a peripheraledge portion of a panel supported by said assembly, said frame assemblycomprising a first elongated frame member having a longitudinallyextending generally planar central web defining the inner wall of theaforementioned recess, a pair of like intermediate webs integral withand projecting transversely from the opposite longitudinal edges of saidcentral web to define the opposite side Walls of said recess, a pair oflike right-angled sections each having a face portion integrally joinedalong one longitudinal edge to one of said intermediate webs, therespective face portions of said right-angled sections lying in a commongeneral plane parallel to the general plane of said central web, a sideportion of each right-angled section projecting perpendicularly from thelongitudinal edge of its associated face portion remote from theintermediate web and in a direction toward the general plane of saidcentral web, each of said side portions having a smooth unbrokenexternal surface constituting the external surface of one of saidopposite and parallel walls of said rectangle throughout the entireextent of such Wall and said right-angled sections defining the twoadjacent corners of the rectangular transverse cross sectional shape ofsaid frame assembly at the respective ends of one Wall of the rectangle,a substantially right-angled flange integrally formed on the surface ofeach of said side portions which is opposite the smooth unbrokenexternal surface thereof, each respective side portion and the flangeformed thereon forming a generally rectangular trough having an openside facing in the direction away from said one Wall, one piecedetachable second frame member means mounted on said first frame memberand cooperating With said side portions to complete the rectangulartransverse cross sectional shape of said frame assembly, said secondframe member defining the Wall of said rectangular transverse crosssectional shape opposite to said one Wall, and mounting means on saidsecond frame member including a pair of flanges, there being a flangeintegrally formed on each longitudinal side edge of said second framemember, said flange projecting into the trough positioned oppositethereto and including means for retaining a resilient glazing strip inposition to engage the interior of said trough to detachably mount saidone piece second frame member upon said first frame member and permitmovement of said second frame member relative to said first frame memberin a direction parallel to the respective side portions of said firstframe member right-angled sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,883,871 10/1932 Bohnsack 52-4952,706,541 4/1955 Crown 52-721 3,016,993 1/1962 Owen 52397 3,023,8593/1962 Muessel 52720 3,037,591 6/1962 Pulling et a1. 52-397 3,147,5189/1964 Horgan 52-397 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

20 R. S. VERNUT, Assistant Examiner.

